RCSS also known as SSA-S was formed from the Shan United Revolutionary Army (SURA)by Lt. Gen.Yawd Serk that opposed the ceasefire with the government made by the mainstream SSA. The SURA led by Sao Yawd Serk was a breakaway faction of the Mong Tai Army led by drug lord Khun Sa and previously the original Shan State Army. Shan State National Army (SSNA) led by Sao Sai Yee merged with RCSS on 21 May 2005. RCSS has been struggling for constructing a genuine federal union, political equality and self-determination.

*RCSS is known as Shan State Army - South as well as a member of Committee for ShanState Unity (CSSU). The CSSU was established on Oct 15, 2013. The CSSU’s membersinclude the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), Shan State Joint Action Committee(SSJAC- a coalition of SNLD and SSPP) and the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party, aswell as 13 civil society organizations.

President said to cooperate Reposition of Arms groups,Resettlement of People,Job Creation,Education and Developmental Project.For constitution amendment, Hluttaw will proceed. RCSS said they are fighting not for Confederation State, it is for Federal, Democracy, Self determination, Participation.

8

12/07/2013

Chiang Mai, Thailand

MPC Technical Team

(informal)

9

15/08/2013

MPC in Yangon

Col. Sai La

Hla Maung Shwe, Aung Naing Oo and Dr. Min Zaw Oo

they discussed about nationwide ceasefire and political talks. RCSS also claimed Govt forces retreats from near the RCSS military camp. it's an informal meeting.

10

23/08/2013

Yangon

RCSS + KNU

MPC

Ethnics' technical team led by KNU and RCSS discuss on Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement with MPC technical team.

UPWC president Sai Mauk Kham expected to get nation wide ceasefire in October. (1) commitment of ceasefire (2) framework from both sides negotiation for political dialouge (3) all inclusiveness in Conference (4) midterm working process negotiations is proposed by KNU- RCSS. It's an informal meeting.

12

02/09/2013

Taunggyi

RCSS/SSA, PNO, Ya La La Pha

Shwe Mann/ Aung Than Htut

Informal meeting

13

07/09/2013

Chiang Mai, Thailand

RCSS/ KNU

MPC-Aung Min/ Khin Yee/ MPC

Informal meeting The 14 point draft nationwide ceasefire accord presented by the ethnic armed movements was in principle accepted by the government’s technical team, according to the briefing given by Karen and Shan representative at the Working Group for Ethnic Coordination (WGEC) meeting held in Chiangmai last Friday, 6 September.“The wording as well as some specifics need some touch-up,” the Karen National Union (KNU) and Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) representatives were informed on 23 August in Rangoon.Specifics include Human Rights issues (Point #13) where the WGEC has proposed regional independent Human Rights Committees be established. “A National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has been set up by the government,” the Myanmar Peace Center (MPC) was reported as saying. “The proposition therefore will need some careful treatment.”

14

20/09/2013

Taunggyi

RCSS, SSPP, PNLO

U Aung Min (UPWC)

Informal meeting This is an informal meeting between UPWC and RCSS, SSPP, and PNLO in Taunggyi city. U Aung Min and delegations from RCSS, SSPP and PNLO attend the Shan-Kayah-Mon state Trust Building Conference holds on 21-23 Sept 2013. RCSS seems to discuss about the recent clahes betwenn RCSS and Myanmar army in southern Shan state.

15

18/06/2014

Chaing Rai, Mae Khong river bank, Golden Triangle

Gen Yawd Serk -

Aung Min and MPC

Informal meeting Govt representatives U Aung Min with MPC people and RCSS leader have dinner at the bank of the Maekong river in Chaing Rai, Thailand.

Informal meeting They discussed about next round of peace talk and other peace related issue. This is an informal meeting between RCSS and MPC technical teams.

Developments

So far the local monitoring group is yet to be formed. U Aung Min said earlier that he was still drafting rules and regulations for the said body.

Points presented for the first step of peace process:

U Aung Min

RCSS

To make ceasefire

To form delegation and set up offices for communication

To allow each party without arms to pass through each party’s area of control

To set up the date and venue for political negotiation with Naypyidaw level

To make ceasefire

To be able to discuss politics

To set up development area

To cooperate in the drug eradication

Liaison offices

Taunggyi, Kengtung, Kholam, Tachilek and Mongton

Monitoring

Two sides to conduct joint field survey

A peace-monitoring group will be formed before the end of July 2012 after the￼nomination by the two sides of suitable persons"

RCSS organized a meeting of the Shan State scholars on 22-23/08/2012 and formed this Peace Monitoring Committee consisting of 19 members

the SSA field team leader Brig-Gen Pawng Kherh told SHAN, 19 people, some of them highly regarded in the Shan community, have volunteered to become Peace Monitors to be watchdogs against truce violations between government troops and the armed resistance.

U Aung Min, the government’s key negotiator, said on 1 July that regulations for peace monitors were still being drafted and that the body would include people nominated by the government, the resistance and the media."

Military

Coordinate with each other in advance before moving with arms out of designated positions.

The two sides will remain at positions agreed upon by both sides.

Designation of areas will be discussed further at the Union level talks.

Resettlement

Government will assist families of the RCSS/SSA members to earn adequate.

National ID cards will be issued to members, family members and people residing￼with the RCSS/SSA.

Economic

Special industrial zone will be set up and controlled by the RCSS.

RCSS/SSA is permitted to request assistance from and coordinate with NGOs and INGOs.

The 10-day visit inside the country from 15-24 January 2012, included the signing of the Union level agreement for security and development and meetings with both Shan political parties and civil societies. Shan State Army – (RCSS/SSA) leaders concluded a seven-day tour of businesses. At the invitation of the government peace team led by Railway Minister Aung Min, a seven-member RCSS/SSA team visited Rangoon and Mandalay and a three-member team visited Muse in northern Shan State

Has set up a 6 companies under the name Shan Taung Tan Cherry on 14 May 2012, these include travel and tours gems and jewelry, trading, services, industry and hotel.

Social

Government will assist the RCSS/SSA in the preservation and promotion of Shan literature and culture

RCSS/SSA will be allowed to register its Tai Freedom news agency after the new media law comes into effect

Political

Members and supporters of RCSS/SSA who are in prison will be released except for those who have been imprisoned on criminal charges.

Two sides will continue to build up mutual trust to enable the RCSS/SSA to be totally withdrawn from the list of unlawful associations.

The RCSS/SSA is free to hold political consultations with individuals, groups and communities throughout the country

A small team of SSA led by Awng Hseuk spoke to the public gathering in Pongpakhem, located 16 km north of the Thai-Burma border and announced that the SSA-S will stop collecting taxes and recruits from the ordinary people. (19/01/2012)

The RCSS/SSA will urge the people for their participation in the political negotiations with the government during the upcoming 2013 (14/12/2012)

Drugs

Government, UNODC and RCSS will undertake survey in Mongnai and Mongpan townships

Choose sites for crop substitution pilot project

Plans for the crop substitution pilot project will be jointly drawn up, explained and discussed with the people, and then implemented

The crop substitution pilot project at the chosen sites will be implemented by the government-UNODC-RCSS as soon as possible*

UNODC will render technical assistance to the government-RCSS crop substitution project sites and discuss with international donors for the provision of immediately needed funds for the project

RCSS will keep the local people as well as its members informed on protection against the dangers of drugs, reduction and total eradication of opium cultivation, cooperation in the control of drugs and implementation of the crop substitution project

For effective implementation CCDAC, Shan State Police Force and RCSS will each appoint contact persons and exchange information through email, telephone and other appropriate means

Security issues in the joint CCDAC-UNODC and RCSS crop substitution project sites will be presented to the higher authorities

Clashes + Ceasefire Breaches

People in Laikha township, Shan State South, where the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’ is active, has been warned by military authorities to steer clear of the SSA or face charges on Section 17-1 (unlawful association) 22/10/2012

The UWSA and RCSS/SSA had a military standoff in mid-June 2012 when Wa troops surrounded the SSA-S camp of Lwal Kaw Wun, based in Mong Hsat, eastern Shan State, after Shan soldiers apparently trespassed into Wa areas.The two armed groups plan to have further negotiations to solve the border dispute so that future confrontations can be avoided. The UWSA released around 20 soldiers from the RCSS/SSA following a meeting between representatives of the two groups in August 2012.

Partnerships

RCSS and UWSA held a second meeting for counteract narcotic drugs and harvest replacement planning (28-29 December 2012),

International Partnerships

UNODC - tripartite agreement

MPSI 2/9/12 : Representatives of the Myanmar Peace Support Initiative, Norwegian Refugee Council, the Shan State Army –South/Restoration Council of Shan State, and Shan Relief and Development Committee met to discuss the proposed pilot projects under the MPSI. The participants agreed to conduct an assessment among internally-displaced persons’ camps, to learn their concerns, needs, and aspirations for the future. ‘Needs’ will mean both immediate needs in their host communities and in areas of return. This survey will be conducted at the end of the rainy season 2012, approximately late October, and will be implemented by local Shan organisations. Press Release

Dec 14, 2012 - RCSS/SSA launched their 5 aims for the future politics on one year anniversary of ceasefire agreement

Dec 13, 2012 - Brig Gen Pawng Kherh said if anyone were to be prosecuted with Section 17-1 (unlawful association) for assisting in the peace process, the first one should be his Naypyitaw counterpart U Aung Min.

Nov 08, 2012 - Further violations of the ceasefire by the government army may result in the collapse of the treaty, warned Lt-Gen Yawdserk

Oct 26. 2012 - A meaningful and successful political dialogue means both sides must be willing to make concessions - Lt-Gen Yawdserk

Oct 19, 2012 - RCSS/SSA launched a statement that it supporting to the standpoint of SNLD

Sep 12, 2012 - RCSS/SSA commanders say they are frustrated with the government in trying to establish a true ceasefire, saying it was only with Naypyidaw, but not the government army.

Aug 24, 2012 - A recent report submitted by the month long RCSS/SSA field trip to its leadership says most people, despite the on and off clashes with the government Army, have recommended continued talks to reach a political solution is the best option available at present